Mechanical movement.



' R". A. LA POINTE. MECHANICAL MOVEMENT. APPLICATION FILED FEB. 12. 1912.

Patented Apr; 11, 1916.

Inventor. Remz' Jlla, Poz'zzfe IIHI II II REMI A. LA POINTE, 0]? LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Apr; 11,1916.

Application filed. February 12, 1912. Serial No. 677,260.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, REMI A. LA PoIN'rE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Mechanical Movements, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to improvements in motion picture machines, and it is an object of the invention to provide a ma.- chine of this character which is adapted for taking pictures, for exhibiting pictures or for printing copies from negatives as may be desired. I

It is also an object of the invention to provide a machine adapted to give or take a quick succession of pictures of an object or objects, the intermittent movement being practically instantaneous whether the machine is operated rapidly or slowly.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a rear elevation of the improved motion picture machine forming the subject matter of this invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the greater portion of the same, the upper part however being taken upon the line 22 of Fig. 1.

The details and features of the invention will now be. more particularly described, reference being had to the said drawing in which 15 indicates the frame of the machine having side upright pieces and a front piece. In the lower part of the frame is mounted one of the feed wheels 16 which is ofa pref erable or ordinary type and carried by a shaft 17 journaled in the side uprights of the frame. The said feed wheel is usually provided with teeth 18 adapted to engage the perforations generally provided in the films employed in such machines. Cooperating therewith is a pressure roller 19 having grooves 20 opposite the teeth 18, the said roller being adapted to hold the film against the feed roller 16, said roller being carried by a frame 21. A like feed roller 22 also engages the said wheel 16 at a different point thereon and is carried by a pivoted frame 23 which is connected by a spring 24 with the frame 21 which carries the roller 19. The said rollers thus hold the film under a suitable pressure against a portion of the periphery of the wheel 16 for securing a positive feed for the film.

The shaft 17 projects beyond the side wall of the frame 15 and carries an operating crank handle 25. A gear wheel 26 is also secured to said shaft 17 and is arranged to mesh with other gearing above for imparting movement to the various parts ofthe mechanism of the machine. A similar feed wheel 27 is mounted at the top of the maframe 15, the mechanism for imparting the necessary intermittent movement to the film is mounted upon a cross frame 35, which is provided with end portions preferably approximately secure in cross section, which fit into supporting recesses 36 and 37 formed in the front edges of the frame walls. J ournaled in this cross frame is a shaft 38, one end of which extends beyond the side of the machine a suflicient distance to receive an actuating gear 39 and a balance wheel 40. The other end of said shaft projects beyond the other side of the machine and carries a loosely mounted crank arm 41. The said crank arm is j ournaled loosely upon the said shaft 38 but is caused at intervals to rotate therewith by means of a cross bar 42, rigidly carried by the end of the shaft 38. The arrangement is such that when the shaft 38 turns, the said cross bar 42 will engage the crank 43 of the crank arm 41 and cause the same to move with said shaft 38. It will be understood, however, that the crank arm, if quicker motion were imparted thereto, could be moved ahead of the bar'for a part of its revolution, and'then wait for the said bar and the formation is important for this reason, and for the reason that the instantaneous feeding of the film may be accomplished irrespective of the speedof the shaft 38. The said crank 43 is provided at its outer end with a pitman 44 which is connected by means of a spring 45 with a bracket 46 projecting from the transverse frame 35. An adjusting bolt 47 is provided for regulating the tension of the said spring 45.

It will be understood that when the crank 43 is being turned against the action of the spring 45that it will rest against the bar 42.

When however, the crank passes thecenter it is free to follow the crank forwardly ahead of the bar 42, will act instantaneously in doing so, and the crank will be moved to its lowered position where it is held until the bar 42 again catches up with it. The shaft 38 thus indirectly moves the feeding mechanism for the film. The crank arm 41 is provided with a sleeve 50 which extends through one of the journal bearings of the shaft 88 and in turn forms a journal bearing for said shaft therein. The inner end 50 of said sleeve carries a disk 51 having the usual flange 52 and pin for operating a star wheel 54 of ordinary construction. The star wheel is secured to a shaft 55 journaled in arms projecting from the frame 35 and the said shaft also carries a feed wheel 56 provided with teeth 57. A spring actuated frame 59 is mounted upon the said arms of the frame 35 and carries a pressure roller 60 having grooves for accommodating the teeth 57.

The film passing downwardly. from the upper feed roller 27 will engage the feed roller 56 and will receive an intermittent feeding movement therefrom through the action of the star wheel 54, and the disk 51. The period of rest at such intermittent movement will be greatly lengthened because of the instantaneous action of the crank 41 and the period of movement will be practically instantaneous because of the action of said crank and the spring 45, no matter at what speed the other mechanism of the machine may be driven. The film is prevented from bearing against the shaft 38 and the frame 35 by means of a roller 61 journaled upon a shaft projecting transversely of the path of the film. The gear 39 meshes with an intermediate gear 62 which 7 in turn meshes with the gear 26, whereby movement is imparted from the said latter gear to the other gears. An intermediate gear 63 also meshes with the gear 39 and with an upper gear 64 by which the upper feed mechanism is operated. The gear 64 is carried by a shaft 65 projecting from the frame of the machine, which shaft is also provided with a gear 66 meshing with an intermediate gear 67, which is also in mesh with the gear 30 of the upper feed roller 27. By this means the various feed rollers are positively driven by the operation of the crank 25, with the exception of the intermediate feed roller 56 which is practically instantaneously operated by .the spring 45.

The instantaneous mechanism for imparting the intermittent movement to the film also imparts a similar intermittent and instantaneous action to an exhibiting shutter 70, which is carried by a transverse shaft 71 journaled in the side walls of the frame 15. When the shutter is in closed position it extends upwardly in an approximately vertical plane, but when it is opened it is lowered to the position indicated in dotted.

lines in Fig. 2 being limited in its clownward movement by a suitable stop.

The shaft 71 of the shutter is provided with an actuating segment 72 having gear teeth upon its curved edge, which mesh with corresponding gear teeth 73, carried by a larger segment 74. The said segment 74 is secured to a shaft 75 which extends outwardly through the adjacent wall of the frame and is provided with an operating arm 76. The said arm 76 extends clownwardly to a point in approximately the same horizontal plane as the axis of the crank arm 41. The end of said arm 76 is pivoted to a sleeve 77 which slides upon a pitman rod 78. The said pitman rod 78 has a pivotal connection at one end with the crank 43, while at its other end it is provided with a limiting nut 79 between which and the sleeve 77 is interposed a spring 80. An intermediate portion of the said pitman 78 is screw threaded and provided with an adjusting nut 81 adapted to engage the end of the sleeve 77. When the crank 41 is moved forwardly and downwardly by the action of the spring 45, in the direction indicated by the arrow on Fig. 2, the nut 81 will abut the end of the sleeve 77 and cause it to quickly force the lever 76 outwardly and with a practically instantaneous movement lift the shutter 70 across the path of the light passing through the lens 82 of the machine. lVhen the crank 41 is making a re turn movement against the action of the spring 45, the shutter 70 will be lowered to its open position again and any additional movement beyond what is necessary to bring it to this point, in the action of the pitman 78 will be accommodated by the spring 80. It will be readily understood that the shutter 70 will be held in open position except at the instant when the intermittent feed of the film is accomplished, at which instant the shutter will be lowered for a small fraction of time.

The intermediate gear 63 is also adapted to operate the shutter which is preferably employed for taking the pictures, said gear being carried by shaft 83 journaled in the wall of the frame 15 and having a gear 84 near its inner end, which meshes with a gear 85 secured to a shaft 86. The shaft 86 is provided at a suitable point intermediate its length with an eccentric 87 which engages an eccentric strap 88 carried upon the end of a rod 89. The said rod 89 extends upwardly in the frame of the machine and has a sliding engagement with a guide sleeve 90 secured to the frame. The said rod 89 is connected at an intermediate point with a spring 91 which extends to the shutter mechanism in such a manner as to instantaneously operate the same. The said shutter is made upof two shutter wings 92 and 93 which are pivoted to a plate 94 which is journaled in the framing of the machine. The shutter wings are arranged so that they may be brought closer together or moved farther apart for controlling the size of opening-between them, which opening will control the amount of exposure given in taking pictures. The said plate 94 is provided with a laterally projecting arm or standard 95 having an eye secured to the end thereof to which the end of the spring 91 is secured. By reference to Fig. 1 of the drawing, it will be noted that the relation of the connection between the spring and the rod 89 and the arm 95 is such that when vthe rod 89 is moved upwardly by the ecy to expose the film as the opening between the shutter wings passes opposite the lens. When the eccentric 87 brings the rod 89 downwardly again the pull of the spring 91 will be brou ht below the pivotal center of the shutter and theshutter will be quickly snapped to its lowered position as shown in Fig. 1, in full lines.

The film is passed through the machine in a suitable manner, a suitable loop or slack portion being provided between the upper feed roller 27 and the lower feed roller 16, so that the intermittent mechanism can operate upon the central portion of 'the film without injuring the film. The

intermediate portion of the film is guided opposite the lens by means of a guide frame 113 having a guide'groove for the film in its rear face. A door 114 hinged to the frame at 115 is adapted to swing over the film and against the said frame and is usually provided with adjustable guide bars 116 which extend vertically of the door and longitudinally upon the edges of the film. The said bars are carried by studs 117 which project outwardly through the door and which engage transversely arranged springs 118. Set screws119 hold the central portions of said springs 118 and vary their pressure upon the film engaging portions 116. A sufficient amount of friction is thus maintained upon the film as it passes through the said frame under the action of the intermittent feed motion, to properly present the film in a smooth and flat posi tion before the lens.

It has been common in machines of this class to construct the film carrying frame between the feed rollers, in a movable manner so that it may be raised or lowered to properly position or frame the picture, as it is termed so that it will be properly centered opposite the lens and thus appear upon the screen when projected at the desired point thereon. This structure necessitates the adjustable mounting of a considerable portion of the picture taking mechanism whioh must be raised or lowered in positioning the picture. In my improved mechanism I accomplish this purpose in a different manner and-without the necessity of moving the frame up and down in the machine.

A film engaging roller 150 is carried by a crank shaft 151' whichis journaled in one of the side standards of the frame 15. The said roller is so held by the shaft that it can be made to press inwardly against the film and draw it downwardly in the picture frame which is located immediately above it. The loop in the film indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 permits of the drawing down of the film to a greater or less extent as may be necessary by the action of said roller 150. The outer end of the crank shaft 151 projects outside the frame 15 and carries a lever 152 which is capable of swinging to a slight degree upon the crank shaft 151,

the extent of its movement being limited by" a set screw 153 which engages a flattened portion of the shaft or a' short slot formed therein. A collar 154 is clamped upon the outer end of said shaft so as to be rigid therewith and is connected by means of a spring 155, with an adjusting eye bolt 156, secured to the lever near its handle end. In this'manner the lever is' capable of rocking the said crank shaft with a yielding pres sure to force the roller 140 against the film. By pulling the film downwardly from the upper loop, the picture can be readily and easily positioned so as to be properly framed in exhibiting the same.

The principles of the device as above set forth are admirably adapted for the exhibiting of pictures with a minimum amount of flickering action in throwing the said pictures upon the screen, principally because of the practically instantaneous action of the intermittent feed mechanism and the very short duration of movement in the parts thereof, and also the short time'which it is necessary to close the shutter during such intermittent movement. The film is moved so rapidly by the spring 45 and the shaft 41 that the shutter can be kept open practically all of the time. Of course the shutter 70 closes during each intermittent motion but only for an instant. The movement of these parts is always at the same speed no matter how rapidly or how slowly the gearing operated by the crank 25 is driven. This makes it possible to run certain pictures slower, in exhibiting them, than is possible with the intermittent feed mechanisms commonly in use heretofore. In taking pictures the instantaneous feeding of the film is also of great advantage since the interruption of the light by the shutter is .only for a short duration. The action of the shutter mechanism which is controlled by a spring in the same manner as is the action of the crank 41 makes it possible to obtain this result.

It is believed that the above description sets forth the operation of the parts sufficiently clearly to not require an additional statement as to the operation of the machine at this point.

What I claim is:

1. In a machine of the class described, the combination of an intermittent feeding mechanism, a shaft for actuating the same, a crank loosely 'mounted on said shaft and adapted to be moved part Way by the rotation of said shaft, a member rigidly secured to said shaft to cause said rotation, and means to continue the movement of said crank ahead of the rotation of the shaft for imparting an instantaneous feeding movement thereto.

2. An intermittent mechanical movement, comprising a shaft, a sleeve'loosely mounted on said shaft, a crank carried by said sleeve, a bar projecting from said shaft and adapted to move said crank, a spring connecting said crank With a fixed point and adapted to quickly advance the crank to effect the desired intermediate movement irrespective of the action of said shaft, and means to drive said shaft.

3. In a feeding mechanism, a device for intermittently accelerating the feeding movement comprising an advancing roller, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft continuously at a uniform speed, means controlled by said shaft during a part of its revolution for rotating the advancing roller, and separate means for accelerating the movement of said roller independent of said shaft.

4L. In a Winding mechanism, an advancing roller, a shaft, means for rotating said shaft at a uniform speed, means for rotating the advancing roller by said shaft during a part of its revolution, and spring actuated means for rotating the advancing roller during the remainder of the rotation of the shaft at an accelerated speed.

5. In a Winding mechanism, an advancing roller, a shaft, means for rotating the shaft at a uniform speed, a sleeve on said shaft, means for rotating the advancing roller from said sleeve, means on said shaft for rotating the sleeve during a partial revolution of the shaft, and separate means for rotating the sleeve independent of the shaft to accelerate the movement of the advancing roller irrespective of the speed of rotation of the shaft.

6. In a Winding mechanism, the combination of an advancing roller, a shaft, means for rotating the shaft continuously, a sleeve on said shaft, means for rotating the advancing roller from said sleeve, means for rotating the sleeve synchronously With the shaft during a partial revolution thereof, and spring means for accelerating the movement of the sleeve independent of the speed of rotation of the shaft.

7. In a Winding mechanism, the combination of a shaft, means for rotating the shaft continuously, a sleeve on said shaft, an advancing roller geared to said sleeve, means for connecting the sleeve to the shaft to rotate in unison therewith during a partial revolution thereof, and separate means for imparting an instantaneous rotary motion to the sleeve independent of the shaft to accelerate the movement of the advancing roller.

8. In a film feeding mechanism, a shaft, a rotary member, an advancing roller geared to said member, means for engaging said member to the shaft during a partial revolution of the latter, and separate means for imparting an instantaneous movement to the rotary member independent of the shaft to accelerate the movement of the film advancing roller.

In Witness that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st day of February, 1912.

REMI A. LA POINTE. Witnesses:

E. STADLMAN, EARLE R. POLLARD.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. G. 

